I think the Vimalakirti Sutra is the best to make a point about what Mahayana is about. It is funny, easygoing, imaginative, philosophically deep and flexible, open to all sorts of inclinations.

1Myriad dharmas are only mind. Mind is unobtainable. What is there to seek?2If the Buddha-Nature is seen,there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.3Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.4With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,the six paramitas and myriad meansare complete within that essence.

It's my feeling that neither Mahayana nor Theravada that needs to make a 'convincing case" for itself. It's terribly interesting to study the history of the development of the various sanghas and schools, and to understand the origins, development and actual authors of the suttas and sutras.

For this reason, I'm a big fan of Bhikkhu Bodhi. As most folks here know, he's a Theravada Bhikkhu that lives and teaches at a Chan monastery in New York. He's a Pali scholar, who also walks the walk through his Buddhist Global Relief program, http://www.buddhistglobalrelief.org/ , among others.

So, here's one thing he has said: "In my own view, both paths (or vehicles) — the arahant path and the bodhisattva path — can be seen as valid expressions of the Buddha's teaching." This article (cited at other times, I'm sure, on this and it's sister's forum) is the best expression of this validation of both schools: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... ttvas.html

From what little I have read of the subject, Theravada (not Hinayana, which disappeared) and Mahayana share the same foundational body and bloodline. It can be argued that both Theravada and Mahayana have attributes of embellishment and variable authenticity. I like what Ven. Bodhi has to say, that we need not make convincing arguments for both Therayana and Mahayana....both are fraternal twins who were raised by different parents. They sometimes forget that their DNA mirrors each other.

I want to also mention that Bhikkhu Bodhi also suffers serious migraines (I'm sorry you suffer these, JKhedrup) ...such that they have interfered with his work at times in his past. Yet, he moves forward, and for me is one of the leading lights in the modern Buddhist world.

BuddhaSoup wrote:From what little I have read of the subject, Theravada (not Hinayana, which disappeared) and Mahayana share the same foundational body and bloodline. It can be argued that both Theravada and Mahayana have attributes of embellishment and variable authenticity. I like what Ven. Bodhi has to say, that we need not make convincing arguments for both Therayana and Mahayana....both are fraternal twins who were raised by different parents. They sometimes forget that their DNA mirrors each other.

JKhedrup wrote:Yes my post was not so clear. From time to time in winter I get pretty severe headaches and cannot read, sleep or do much of anything. I decided to try and make some posts on dharma wheel but of course with a serious headache they came out a little bit convoluted/unclear in some instances. For that I apologize!

I was mainly referring to what texts most inspired the practitioners here to take up the practice of Mahayana, and how those texts convinced them it was a genuine teaching. In the Tibetan scholastic tradition texts that touch on this point are known as teg chen bka' sgrubs "Proving Mahayana as the (Buddha's) Word." But I was not referring only to that type of literature, but also to Mahayana Sutras and Shastras that simply inspired faith in the practice of the Bodhisattva vehicle.

I am not trying to convince anyone, I was more interested in people's journeys. I decided a long time ago that people will follow the path of pratice with which they have an affinity.

No need to apologize.Hope you feel better!My favorite Mahayana sutra thus far is the Heart Sutra, which I usually read alongside the Kaccayanagotta Sutta (SN 12.15).My favorite Mahayana practice thus far is Medicine Buddha, which I associate with buddhanussati, recollection of the 7 factors of enlightenment (SN 46.16), and the Sarakaani Sutta (SN 55.24).

For me, it was extensive reading and pondering on the commentaries and texts left by various Ch'an patriarchs and masters that clarified things for me, supporting the Diamond, Lotus and Vimalakirti Sutras

Perfect emptiness is a transparent seawhere the feintest breath makes foamas soon as we have a bodywe have worries about food and clothesrunaway racehorse perceptionsuncaged monkey delusionsuntil you understand the Lord of Emptinessthe Wheel of Rebirth rolls on ~ Stonehouse (14th century)

Disclaimer: If I have posted about something, then I obviously have no idea what I am talking about!

Thanks Yudron and Porkchop-I guess many people have some sort of health issues in their lives. I am not sure of the source of these headaches, though acupuncture treatment did bring some temporary relief.Our Dutch translator here, who has been doing this work for a long time, tells me translators are very succeptible to rlung illness (wind disease) which sometimes cause headaches. I am not sure why this is and also don't know how I would go about diagnosing rlung without the help of a Tibetan doctor.

JKhedrup wrote:Thanks Yudron and Porkchop-I guess many people have some sort of health issues in their lives. I am not sure of the source of these headaches, though acupuncture treatment did bring some temporary relief.Our Dutch translator here, who has been doing this work for a long time, tells me translators are very succeptible to rlung illness (wind disease) which sometimes cause headaches. I am not sure why this is and also don't know how I would go about diagnosing rlung without the help of a Tibetan doctor.

Oohh, I hadn't thought of that.In 2007, I went back to Japan for a visit after a long time away.I'd been studying the language hard for a good 6 months before going in order to brush up.After about a week of being in Japan, immersed in Japanese 24/7, hearing it, reading it, swimming in it... I got some of the worst headaches I've ever had.I'd been doing Japanese as a hobby before I left, but getting there and making it my main functioning language really did a number on my head.Not sure if you're going through the same thing, but sometimes I think you may need to let those brain muscles rest. I know I also had headaches a few months back when my breath meditation practice was really picking up.Wish I knew how to help you, the only thing that worked for me was time off and sleep.